A/N: See, I told you guys I'd have the next chapter up by tonight! There's a little bit of a time jump in this one but only because I needed to establish some things that will be going on in the next story! One more chapter, which will be up tomorrow and it's done! Keep the reviews coming guys!
It had been almost two months and school was finally out. After graduation, the seniors of Eden Hall Academy were in complete party mode and since it was getting warmer out, they decided to throw the first bonfire party of the year at the local beach.
Andria, who was newly single, arrived at the beach early with Sophia to help set-up.
"So, when does Jared get back?" She asked.
"Tomorrow," Sophia smiled. She had been counting down the days until Jared's return from Rome for the longest time. She felt as though everything that happened with Ryan was just a sign that she needed to focus on Jared and be with him, really be with him.
"And Ryan?" Andria asked. Her cousin looked at her. "He's not going to stay in Indiana forever, Soph."
"I know," Sophia sighed. "I'm just… scared of what'll happen with both of them back," she shook her head. "I don't want to hurt Jared, not again."
"So don't," Andria said and Sophia looked at her. "Ryan had a teensy little crush on you and kissed you but it doesn't mean anything because you don't feel the same way about him," she continued. "So, you'll only be hurting Jared by telling him."
"I can't keep this from him, Andria," Sophia said, folding her arms over her chest.
"If you want to stay with him, you should," she advised. "You know how he would react to this, Soph," she explained and Sophia sighed. "It's your decision but I mean, I wouldn't tell him if I were you."
Sophia nodded and Andria stood up. "Where are you going?"
"Well, I've been having kind of a dry spell lately ever since what's-his-face broke up with me," she rolled her eyes.
"Vince," Sophia reminded her. "And he didn't break up with you, his mother died and he needed some time to be alone."
"Yeah, instead of letting me be there for him," she crossed her arms over her chest. Sophia gave her a look. "I was nothing but supportive Sophia and all he did was push me away!"
"His mother just died!" Sophia argued. Andria sighed. "It's not so fun when you're on the other side, is it?" Andria looked at her.
"What are you babbling on about now?" She asked.
"You did the same thing to Nick before you guys broke up," she said and Andria sighed. "Except, you didn't really have a justifiable reason for it,"
Andria rolled her eyes as she took off her top and shorts to reveal her bikini. "I wasn't in love with Nick," she said and Sophia gave her a look. "Nor am I in love with Vince but I… I care about him and I want to be there for him."
"Well, you just have to give him time," she nodded encouragingly. "He'll come around, he cares about you too."
Andria shrugged and then smiled as she saw the boys arriving. "I'll be right back!"
"Andria," Sophia said, warningly.
"I'm allowed to have guy friends okay?" She said. "And it's not my fault if they look like Abercrombie & Fitch models and flirt with me!"
Sophia rolled her eyes. "Hey, by the way," she said and Andria looked at her. "You never told me if you got your acceptance letter from USC."
"Ugh, I think it got lost in the mail or something," she rolled her eyes. "Mailmen are idiots and don't get that I live in a dorm," she sighed and Sophia nodded. "Anyways, no school talk tonight! It's a party!"
Sophia nodded and watched her go as she continued to set up the fire pit.
"Okay, our daughter looks adorable with a guitar," Ethan said, as he and Nora were sitting outside playing with Emma. Ryan had bought his goddaughter a plush guitar and she hadn't let go of it since she got it.
Nora laughed as she watched her daughter play with the toy. "Who knows? She could be the next Molly Riley," she winked and Ethan laughed awkwardly. "Sorry, I don't even know why I said that."
"It's okay," he laughed. "Molly and I… it wasn't right, what she did but I forgive her," he nodded. "She's living her dream and I can't blame her for that."
"Yeah but she didn't have to step all over you to get to her dream," she shook her head and took a sip of her drink.
"It doesn't really matter anymore," he shrugged. "So, you wanted to talk about something?"
"Yes," Nora said, looking at him excitedly. "So, I talked to my parents and they talked to yours and I mean, since you practically live here anyway," she said and he raised an eyebrow. "We still have that extra bedroom downstairs that isn't being used and I was wondering if you maybe wanted to move in?"
"Oh, I don't know Nora…" he shook his head and she looked at him. "I mean, do you think that's a good idea?"
"Of course," she nodded. "Travelling back and forth is hard at it is and like I said, you've been practically living here for the past couple of months anyways."
"Okay," he nodded. "But what about Jesse?"
"What about him?" She sighed. "We broke up or we're on a break, whatever," she shrugged. "We're just not ready to be together, I guess but that doesn't change the fact that you, me and Emma are a family and that's what I want to focus on," she said. "That's what I need to focus on; I can't be worrying about boyfriends when I have a two year old to take care of," he nodded. "Will you at least think about it?"
He looked at her. "Yeah, I'll think about it."
Jen was hanging out with Jeremy and Melanie that night at the bonfire but was eagerly awaiting Aidan's return. He was due back any minute now and Jen was growing more excited by the minute.
"He'll be here, relax!" Melanie laughed and Jen looked at her.
"Sorry," she blushed. "I just, I haven't seen him in so long I just have… butterflies!"
"How adorable," Jeremy rolled his eyes and laughed. Jen smiled and playfully hit his arm.
"Ah, speak of the devil!" Melanie said, pointing behind Jen. She turned around excitedly and saw Aidan. She ran up to him and jumped in his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist. They kissed for a while before finally pulling away and looking at each other.
"Hi," he smiled and she smiled back.
"Oh God, I missed you!" She said, hugging him again. He laughed and she pulled away. She looked at him. "What is this?" She asked, examining the stubble around his mouth. "Growing a beard, are we?"
He laughed. "Nah, it's kind of a good luck thing for the playoffs," he shrugged and she looked at him. "We'll talk about that later," he said and she nodded. "Right now I think there's something we have to do…"
She smirked. "It's like you read my mind," she winked and he picked up her up. He brought them over to the backseat of his car, where they spent the majority of the night making love.
A little later that night, Andria was walking alone along the beach, a bottle of Scotch in her hands. She took a big sip and almost wobbled over before catching herself. She giggled and continued walking. She stopped when she saw Vince. He was leaning against his car, parked further away from the party.
"What are you doing here?" She asked and he looked at her.
"Are you drunk?" He asked, concerned.
"That's besides the point!" She said and then giggled. "I asked you a question."
"I wanted to see you," he shrugged, shoving his hands in his pockets. "I've been just trying to find the courage to come up to you."
She sighed and walked over to him. "You were really mean when you broke up with me," she said and he looked at her. She pouted. "You did break up with me, you know?" She said. "Because, as much as I hate to say it, we were in a relationship,"
He laughed. "Of course it would take booze to make you admit that," he shook his head and she leaned on him.
"You miss her, don't you?" She asked and he nodded. She hugged him. "I'm sorry I was so angry, I just wanted to help."
"I know," he nodded. "And I'm sorry I pushed you away, I just needed to deal alone," he explained and she nodded.
"I didn't get into USC," she whispered and he looked at her. "I didn't get in anywhere actually," she shook her head and he raised an eyebrow.
"What are you going to do?" He asked and she shrugged. "Andria, come on, be serious."
"I'm tired of being serious!" She yelled. "I just want to have fun!" She said and spun around but wobbled over again. This time Vince caught her and she laughed.
"Come on," he said. "I'll take you home."
"I hooked up with someone else!" She told him and he looked at her. She pushed him off her. "A lot of guys, actually." She said, proudly.
"That's okay," he shrugged. "I wasn't expecting you not to."
She sighed. "Why aren't you getting mad at me?" She asked. "Nick would have exploded…"
"I'm not Nick," he shook his head and she looked at him. "I like you Andria and despite me pushing you away, you were there for me in every possible way you could and that means so much to me," he said and she looked away, shyly. She had never really seen the sweet side of Vince and it scared her. "Now, I'm going to take you home, okay?"
"Okay," she nodded and he helped her get into his car.
It was two a.m and the party was still going on but Sophia was ready to go home. She really just wanted to be at the Portmans', waiting for Jared to get home. She had spent almost an hour looking for Andria but she was nowhere in sight. Trusting her cousin, she decided to go home but when she finally got back to the bonfire, she saw Ryan. She took a deep breath as he walked over to her.
"Hey," he said and she stared at him. She definitely hadn't expected to see him tonight but was prepared for it.
"Hey," she nodded. "You're back."
"Yeah," he nodded. "Look, I'm sorry about just leaving like that-"
"Let's not talk about it tonight," she interrupted and he nodded. "It's good to see you."
He smiled. "You too," he said. "I know you don't want to talk about it but I still have feelings for you," he said and she closed her eyes, wishing he hadn't said that. "I never stopped."
"Ryan," she whispered but before she could stop him, his lips were on hers, kissing her. She stood there and let him, hating herself for believing that it felt good and then pushed him away. "Don't do that again, please?"
"I just, I know there's something here between us, Sophia." He said but she shook her head.
They heard someone clear their throat and they both turned around, shocked to see Jared. His arms were crossed over his chest and he was staring at them, confused.
"Oh my God, Jared!" Sophia squeaked in surprised. He looked at her angrily. "That was not even what it looked like, Jared…"
"Whatever," he shook his head and walked off.
"No, Jared, wait!" She called after him and then turned to Ryan. "Please leave me alone, Ryan, okay?" She said and then chased after Jared.
Ryan groaned, realizing he had just made a huge mistake.